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Updated: Feb 12, 2026

Assembly and Tracking of Microbial Community Development within a Microwell Array Platform
Published on: June 6, 2017
Core microbial community assembly driving greenhouse gas mitigation in tidal flow constructed wetlands treating
Ao Xu1, Zhenkun Liu1, Dawen Gao1
1Centre for Urban Environmental Remediation, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing, 100044, China; Beijing Energy Conservation & Sustainable Urban and Rural Development Provincial and Ministry Co-construction Collaboration Innovation Center, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing, 100044, China.
Abstract:
The limited understanding of microbial assembly mechanisms in tidal flow constructed wetlands (TFCW) hinders the steering of microbiome for the pollutant removal and greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation. In this study, TFCW with different flooding and draining (F/D) durations (TFCW1: 22 h/2 h; TFCW2: 21 h/3 h; TFCW3: 20 h/4 h; TFCW4: 19 h/5 h) were established to investigate nitrogen removal, GHG mitigation and microbial metabolic mechanisms for treating polluted surface water. A moderately shortened flooding period (20 h/4 h) reconfigured the core microbiome, resulting in an 90% total nitrogen removal and a 107 mg CO2-eq/m2/h global warming potential. This regime intensified habitat heterogeneity, fostering a complex and stable co-occurrence network. Structurally, this ecological restructuring enriched keystone taxa such as Nitrospira, Thauera, Candidatus Brocadia, facilitating nitrogen synergistic transformation. The structured microbial cooperation suppressed nitrous oxide production by promoting the complete reduction of nitrogen intermediates, while the draining period facilitated methane oxidation. Our findings elucidate a core ecological strategy whereby microbial communities adapt to hydraulic regime by restructuring interactions to maintain ecosystem functionality. Collectively, these findings offer guidance for the integrated optimization of GHG control in constructed wetlands.
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